While a new ruling has reduced the amount of money paid to Marvin Gaye’s family in the “Blurred Lines” copyright infringement lawsuit, the judge is not through with Robin Thicke, Pharrell Willams’ and T.I.’s pockets just yet.
The original $7.3 million that the judge ordered the “Blurred Lines” musicians and their team to pay was chopped down to $5.3 million after a new development was made in the case, the Associated Press reports. The judge agreed to order Thicke and Williams to pay half of their royalties to the family instead, with a block on the new trial that Thicke requested. The block also stood relevant for the Gaye family, who motioned for a bar on all of the single’s sales until court proceedings settled.
READ: Robin Thicke On ‘Blurred Lines’ Verdict: ‘I’m Constantly Inspired, But I Would Never Steal’
Richard Busch, the Gaye family’s attorney, threatened to re-litigate the infringement every three years if a royalty percentage hadn’t been settled upon. Because the original ruling only addressed past sales of “Blurred Lines,” the Gaye family wanted to be sure they received all of their just dues.
The attorney for Billionaire Boys Club co-creator, Pharrell, disputed all of the judge’s resolutions. “While we certainly respect the diligence and care devoted by the court throughout these proceedings, we must agree to disagree on the conclusions,” Howard King said in The Hollywood Reporter. “We look forward to exercising our further remedies and ultimately achieving clarity on the difference between inspiration and copyright infringement.”
READ: T.I. On The ‘Blurred Lines’ Case: ‘I Don’t Steal From Anybody Creatively’
Tip, who had previously dodged any involvement with the lawsuit, was also thrown in the mix as a result of the new ruling. The Grand Hustle Records head honcho received a sting from the judge’s order to now include him in Thicke and Williams’ judgment along with Universal, Star Trak Entertainment and Interscope records.
“I am thrilled for the Gaye family, and the thoughtful members of the jury, who had to listen to all of that while remaining silent,” Busch said of the new ruling. He also appreciated the court’s decision to involve T.I., who is a co-writer and royalty recipient for the track, back into the lawsuit.
Hopefully, this is the last and final adjustment to the lawsuit, and a case closed can be stamped on the dispute once and for all.